15X15 Mickey Thompson on a 2000 SS
#21
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Have you ever felt how heavy a 15" rim and tire combo is? Just a personal opinion but I don't think it would be good on your stock rear to try and turn those bad boys either. If you need more traction then just go with a nice set of 11" rims and some 315 drag radials. You would have a lot more traction than you have now and they look great under a stock rear car. Then if you add a lot more power down the road then I'd save some money and tub the rear with the 15" rims you want. How much power is your car pushing?
#22
On The Tree
iTrader: (6)
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Quick question....your sig says that your car is stock. What kind of tire are you running now? I had the same prob with my car, stock, till I got new tires. That helped a hell of alot. Just something to think about instead of blowing a wad of cash that you could use for different and more beneficial mods.
#23
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
I think it's all stock so it's underrated at 275, more realistically more like 290 I'm guessing but unsure. After I do cai, exhaust, tuning, and maybe a cam or something I'm hoping for like 340 or more. So you're pretty sure 315 radials on 11 wides will keep firmly planted?
#24
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally Posted by AncientRgn
Quick question....your sig says that your car is stock. What kind of tire are you running now? I had the same prob with my car, stock, till I got new tires. That helped a hell of alot. Just something to think about instead of blowing a wad of cash that you could use for different and more beneficial mods.
![](http://www.mindtrick.com/ben/images/reartire.jpg)
They are starting to get a bit worn out so that's probably part of it. This brings up another question that may reveal my ignorance but that's better than staying ignorant I s'pose. The quesiton is, if drag slicks have no tread then why wouldn't my worn down tires grip harder on dry pavement like drag slicks do? Is the drag strip made of special kind of asphalt? or are the drag slicks a special kind of rubber? or does it really matter much when I'm driving on dry roads that my tires are a bit too worn ?
So what kind of tire did you get and what kind of results did they give you? I'd like to be able to push at least 350hp at the crank and have tires that grip firmly under stress.
Last edited by HeBen; 02-22-2006 at 03:21 AM.
#25
Teching In
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
dude..no wonder you spin. you got bald *** 225s on there. step up to a 275/60/15 drag radial and i guarantee you'll get traction. why the hell would you even consider putting 15x15s on a stock car? not only would it look completely asinine..but it'd be completely useless. and that's completely ignoring how much it'll slow you down having those big *** rims outback. i can only imagine how stupid it'd look seeing some stock LT1 trans am roll up at the track with 15x15 slicks, struggle to spin the tires to do a burnout, and then blaze down the track to a mid 15. :rofl:
#27
TECH Enthusiast
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: In a cave
Posts: 676
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally Posted by HeBen
I know most people seem to prefer the "pro-street" look nice and tucked in but my thinking is why hide such big beautiful wheels and tires? I think the big wheels/tires look awesome and they're just too hidden when they're all tucked in like that. I'd like to show them off. I think it looks awesome, just my personal preferance though. Also, like I said, the main reason is that I can't afford to tub it out.
Also, I meant that the fenders looked stock, not the wheels, hehe. Sorry if that sentance structure was a little ambiguous. Thanks again for the input and info.
Also, I meant that the fenders looked stock, not the wheels, hehe. Sorry if that sentance structure was a little ambiguous. Thanks again for the input and info.
![The Jester](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/smilies/LS1Tech/gr_jest.gif)
#28
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally Posted by 69chevy
Hide such big beautiful wheels and tires? Man, I can usually spot a tubbed out car coming from a mile away. Not flaming you but it's not that hard to spot a car that has 15x15's out back. Especially if you're behind it. ![The Jester](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/smilies/LS1Tech/gr_jest.gif)
![The Jester](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/smilies/LS1Tech/gr_jest.gif)
#29
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally Posted by HeBen
They're Toyos Proxes steel belted radials P225/50 R16 on stock rims (I think 16x8 or 16x9, not sure). they look like this.
They are starting to get a bit worn out so that's probably part of it. This brings up another question that may reveal my ignorance but that's better than staying ignorant I s'pose. The quesiton is, if drag slicks have no tread then why wouldn't my worn down tires grip harder on dry pavement like drag slicks do? Is the drag strip made of special kind of asphalt? or are the drag slicks a special kind of rubber? or does it really matter much when I'm driving on dry roads that my tires are a bit too worn ?
So what kind of tire did you get and what kind of results did they give you? I'd like to be able to push at least 350hp at the crank and have tires that grip firmly under stress.
![](http://www.mindtrick.com/ben/images/reartire.jpg)
They are starting to get a bit worn out so that's probably part of it. This brings up another question that may reveal my ignorance but that's better than staying ignorant I s'pose. The quesiton is, if drag slicks have no tread then why wouldn't my worn down tires grip harder on dry pavement like drag slicks do? Is the drag strip made of special kind of asphalt? or are the drag slicks a special kind of rubber? or does it really matter much when I'm driving on dry roads that my tires are a bit too worn ?
So what kind of tire did you get and what kind of results did they give you? I'd like to be able to push at least 350hp at the crank and have tires that grip firmly under stress.
#30
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally Posted by slocar mopar
dude..no wonder you spin. you got bald *** 225s on there. step up to a 275/60/15 drag radial and i guarantee you'll get traction. why the hell would you even consider putting 15x15s on a stock car? not only would it look completely asinine..but it'd be completely useless. and that's completely ignoring how much it'll slow you down having those big *** rims outback. i can only imagine how stupid it'd look seeing some stock LT1 trans am roll up at the track with 15x15 slicks, struggle to spin the tires to do a burnout, and then blaze down the track to a mid 15. :rofl:
#31
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally Posted by MountainMotor
Drag slicks are made out of a really soft rubber is why they stick so well, that and most guys heat them up real good before they launch too. Bald 225's won't hold any amount of power, hell by sisters Cougar would spin those. I'm pushing 475 at the crank and I'm stepping up to some 315 Nitto DR. There's guys out there pushing a lot more power than I am running DR's too. There's actually a thread going on right now that wants to know how far guys have lifted the front tires with radials so I think they'll grip just fine for your car if those guys can pull the front tires with them. Read this https://ls1tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=456261.
#32
TECH Addict
iTrader: (28)
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 2,170
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/ranks/ls1tech10year.png)
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally Posted by HeBen
Thanks for the input. My thinking is that if I want to be an all out drag racer then I have to start somewhere. Why not the wheels and tires? And how can you have too much tire? How will it hurt more than help? I know it will sap some hp but I have more than I can use right now anyways. I know I have to up it to at least 10 in wide which would give me a couple more inches and fit easily inside my wells, but why stop there? My thought is that if I don't need all 15in right now then I will later when I mod for hp. I'm just REEEEEALLY SICK of sliding out all over the place cuz I don't have enough traction. Yes it looks rediculous, but I need rediculously large tires to go with my rediculously powerful engine and I can't afford to well it out, so that's where I'm at right now. Any suggestions?
On a side note, putting those heavy *** wheels on your car will hurt you due to the following reasons: 1) More rotating mass takes more power to get started, wheels that big will eat up some of your hp that gets put to the ground. 2) Along with the added power needed to turn those wheels, you're also putting more stress on your drivetrain components, especially that weak 10-bolt.
#33
Teching In
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally Posted by HeBen
Thankyou for your input. They're not exactly bald, but they are worn enough to replace. And wouldn't a 275/60/15 be too small in radius for my stock rims whereas a 275/60/16 would fit just fine? Not sure about that but I think that's the case. The hell why I would even consider putting 15x15s on my stock car was already explained in previous posts, but it is because the stock wheels/tires were not nearly enough traction even when they did have plenty of tread and that's why they've been replaced who knows how many times and are now needing to be replaced again. Furthermore, it's hard for to me to see how adding one or two inches when I've already got like 9 would make the kind of difference I'm looking for, especially since I'm doing hp mods very soon. You really think it'd slow me down to a mid 15? I've heard that the car can do high 13's stock and was told by a guy at a race shop that putting a 10in rim with 11in tread could shave as much as a full second of my 1/4 et, so I don't see how adding another 4 inches of tire/wheel weight, plus more traction, would add about 2-3 sec. I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just not quite convinced that you're right, especially since I'm planning on doing at least cai and full exhoust and tuning with tunercat before I'd even think about taking it to the track. with all those mods do you still think 275/60 is all the traction I could possibly need?
![The Jester](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/smilies/LS1Tech/gr_jest.gif)
#34
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally Posted by slocar mopar
obviously i meant get some 15" rims to put them on too. just because a tire is really wide doesn't automatically mean it'll get much better traction. gotta have sidewall too. intake and exhaust is hardly enough to require 15x15s. 275/60/15s will be more than enough traction for you. i still can't even believe you're serious. ![The Jester](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/smilies/LS1Tech/gr_jest.gif)
![The Jester](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/smilies/LS1Tech/gr_jest.gif)
![Icon Confused](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/smilies2/icon_confused.gif)
![Driving](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/smilies/LS1Tech/gr_driving3.gif)
#35
Teching In
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally Posted by HeBen
Will that sidewall hurt cornering? I want to corner better as well. By the way you are talking, when you say "intake and exhaust is hardly enough to require 15x15s" I figure that you must mean NOT enough, because "hardly enough" could imply a chance that it might actually be enough. Also, I said I was planning on doing AT LEAST that plus tuning with my laptop. I have alot of other hp mods I'm considering. If you still can't beleive I'm serious then you must not realize that I've only had this car for a few months and I came to this forum because I don't know what wheels/tires to get and I'm trying to figure that out.
I was not born with an inate knowlegde of what size wheels/tires I need for what amount of horsepower in a 4th gen f-body. Thanks again for helping me to learn these things. It's very helpful. ![Driving](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/smilies/LS1Tech/gr_driving3.gif)
![Icon Confused](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/smilies2/icon_confused.gif)
![Driving](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/smilies/LS1Tech/gr_driving3.gif)
#36
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally Posted by Krab
According to your sig, you've got a STOCK LT1, which equates to about 270rwhp? Traction can be easily achieved with a set of drag radials at this power level. The reason you can't hook with your tires is because: 1) They've got no tread left and 2) they're not the same compound as a sticky tire (any drag radial). Some Nitto drag radials on your stock wheels would probably suffice for your application. Hooking is not all about how wide your tire is, it has to do with suspension, weight distribution and the type of tire you're running (and at what psi you're running it at).
On a side note, putting those heavy *** wheels on your car will hurt you due to the following reasons: 1) More rotating mass takes more power to get started, wheels that big will eat up some of your hp that gets put to the ground. 2) Along with the added power needed to turn those wheels, you're also putting more stress on your drivetrain components, especially that weak 10-bolt.
On a side note, putting those heavy *** wheels on your car will hurt you due to the following reasons: 1) More rotating mass takes more power to get started, wheels that big will eat up some of your hp that gets put to the ground. 2) Along with the added power needed to turn those wheels, you're also putting more stress on your drivetrain components, especially that weak 10-bolt.
#37
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally Posted by slocar mopar
15x15s will KILL your cornering.
#38
TECH Veteran
iTrader: (30)
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Texarkana, Tx
Posts: 4,391
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/ranks/ls1tech10year.png)
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Drag radials aren't your best choice if you want to be doing hard cornering. They're made for drag racing and 'regular' street driving. I never took curves/corners insanely fast with my Nittos on the car. For the amount of power you have, a 275/50 Nitto 555R will be enough for your car. Also with drag radials, you're stock rearend is living on borrowed time. I'd just get a cheap set of drag rims and mount DRs on them for when you want to race or whatever. Then put some halfway decent tires on your stock rims for everyday driving.
#39
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally Posted by LS69TA
Drag radials aren't your best choice if you want to be doing hard cornering. They're made for drag racing and 'regular' street driving. I never took curves/corners insanely fast with my Nittos on the car. For the amount of power you have, a 275/50 Nitto 555R will be enough for your car. Also with drag radials, you're stock rearend is living on borrowed time. I'd just get a cheap set of drag rims and mount DRs on them for when you want to race or whatever. Then put some halfway decent tires on your stock rims for everyday driving.